Apple experimenting with new ways to keep employees happy
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One of the latest initiatives that the management has tried is called "Blue Sky". Known only to select employees, Blue Sky allows them to spend some of their time working on a pet engineering project - something different from their daily routine and main project. The time that employees are allowed to spend on such side projects is said to be about a few weeks. The Wall Street Journal reminds us that such initiatives are nothing new and are much more popular with other Silicon Valley companies like Google, for example, which has the so-called "20% time", allowing some of the staff to spend up to 20% of their time working on pet projects. Such moves basically aim not only to let employees take a break from their usual work, but also generate some fresh ideas that could be later implemented in the company's main products.
Since Tim Cook has become the chief executive officer of Apple, he has also introduced improved employee discounts on Apple products, as well as the Apple Matching Gifts Program, which has the company match every dollar that a U.S. Apple employee donates to a non-profit organization. Such initiatives were not really the style of Apple's former CEO and co-founder, Steve Jobs, who liked to manage the company more like a military institution than a technology enterprise. Then again, we shouldn't forget that it was Jobs who brought the dough back in the pockets of the people working at Apple, and it's still a bit too early to see how Tim Cook is going to fare in the long run.
source: WSJ
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21 Comments
1. wendygarett (limited) 5 days ago posted on 13 Nov 2012, 04:39 3 4
Just saw a news that many of the Apple retail store hire a lot of low wage staff in US and yet they seems quite happy and motivative... I just dont know why...
11. anywherehome posted on 13 Nov 2012, 05:23 2 0
so children in China have now 20 % time more for themselves? great! :-D
2. andro. posted on 13 Nov 2012, 04:41 3 2
Perhaps the hypnotherapy and brain waving of apple employees is no longer enough to keep them happy and readily willing to spread the Apple 'experience'. If only apple cared more for their unofficial employees in slave labour conditions in foxconn camps
3. jstahl posted on 13 Nov 2012, 04:43 0 8
Little things like these make Apple the greatest company in the world.
10. anywherehome posted on 13 Nov 2012, 05:21 5 0
you mean steal this from Google again?
Google has had this for years ;)
13. rbasky61 posted on 13 Nov 2012, 05:52 0 1
this is no problem. stealing others ideas to help people is incomparable. pls don't mislead people..
16. anywherehome posted on 13 Nov 2012, 06:34 0 1
please, tell this to Apple.....
19. PapaSmurf posted on 13 Nov 2012, 08:20 2 0
Ummmm, Google has been doing this for years; their working environment is a child's playground basically.
4. darkkjedii posted on 13 Nov 2012, 04:43 0 5
6. gothicheart posted on 13 Nov 2012, 04:47 4 0
how about the underpaid sweathouses in China that actually make their products, any move to make them happy?
7. someones4 posted on 13 Nov 2012, 04:49 9 0
Tim: 'to keep everyone happy, we will fire anyone who is unhappy.'
8. wendygarett (limited) 5 days ago posted on 13 Nov 2012, 05:08 5 2
Most Apple workers are fanboy... They still satisfied their work enenthough they miss 3 month salaries :)
9. someones4 posted on 13 Nov 2012, 05:14 1 0
So.. they are like the house elves in harry potter? Taking absolute pleasure in serving their masters. Just an analogy though... based on what you said. No offence to anyone.
12. Aeires (unregistered) posted on 13 Nov 2012, 05:49 1 0
I've read a lot that points to this being true, the working conditions are extremely stressful, they don't get paid as well as other tech companies, and they do it because they totally buy into the Apple philosophy
IMO, if I worked for a company as rich as Apple, I'd be asking for a lot more pay than what they offer.
14. wendygarett (limited) 5 days ago posted on 13 Nov 2012, 06:03 2 2
as much as i love apple, i just wanna share this truth, they are all 'brainwashed' and well trained by steve job.. Remember the steve job 'one soldier kill ten leutenants' plan? He is only hire a staff who can kill ten directors and that is fanboy...
15. wendygarett (limited) 5 days ago posted on 13 Nov 2012, 06:05 0 1
as much as i love apple, i just wanna share this truth, they are all 'brainwashed' and well trained by steve job.. Remember the steve job 'one soldier kill ten leutenants' plan? He is only hire a staff who can kill ten directors and that is fanboy...
18. Bluesky02 posted on 13 Nov 2012, 08:03 1 0
Apple to make staff happy? That's gotta be hard for them because they lack integrity.
21. gwuhua1984 posted on 13 Nov 2012, 10:42 0 0
That's weird, I thought all Apple employees are happy at their job.
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